Apparatus for liquid filling of pressure storage tanks



Nov 19, 1957 RE. POETHIG ET AL 2,313,402

APPARATUS FOR LIQUID FILLING OF PRESSURE STORAGE TANKS Filed Aug. 10,1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 //0a, 94. w /08 A HI! I 05 i. wk

Nov. 19, 1957 R. E. POETHIG ET AL APPARATUS FOR LIQUID FILLING OFPRESSURE STORAGE TANKS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 10, 1955 A w u a 7 aaw J8 W NIH IIIJIII s fifi i z? W rzzeg 1957 R. E. POETHIG ETAL2,313,402

APPARATUS FOR LIQUID FILLING 0F PRESSURE STORAGE TANKS Filed Aug. 10,1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 rzz/elziirs ,e Z/q; damsFEaZZazyZorz ,eoaeyiggo Ii" 2,;

United States Patent Ofiice 2,813,402 Patented Nov. 1 9, 1 957 APPARATUSFOR LIQUID FILLING F PRESSURE STORAGE TANKS Robert E. Poethig, Glenview,and. Evans R. hillington,

Chicago, Ill., assiguors to The Bastian-blessing Company, Chicago, 111.,a corporation of Illinois Application August 10, 1955, Serial No.527,522

17 Claims. (Cl. 62-1) This invention relates to liquefied gas systemsand valve controls and more particularly to a method and combination ofvalves for handling liquefied gas which are primarily directed toimprovements in the filling and withdrawal of liquefied gas from apressure storage tank.

When liquefied gas storage tanks are being replenished conventionallyunder high pump pressures, the vapor present in the tank is rapidlycompressed. Its temperature also goesup and unless sensible heat isremoved from the vapor, the vapor will not condense sutficiently tokeepthe pressure down. Although there is some heat absorption andprecipitation on the inside metal surfaces of the tank and at thesurface of the body of liquid already present in thetank, stratificationquickly occurs at these surfaces because of, the heavy inertness of thevapor. and liquid and prevents any further substantial heat transferfromthe vapor. Thus the vapor present in the tank iscompressed far morerapidly than the vapor can liquefy and the increasing pressure decreasesthe ciliciency of the pump and lengthens the time of filling operations.r

Attempts have been made in the past to prevent pressure rise in thestorage tank by providing a separate line for vapor return to the tanktruck to balance vapor pressures. This arrangement has provedunsatisfactory because of the inconvenience of coupling two separatelines between the truck and the tank, and, furthermore, the amount offuel actually delivered was difiicult to compute, because of the factthat there was no quick and effective way to determine just how muchfuel was returned to the tank truck. Bleeding the vapor to atmosphere isdangerous and refrigeration equipment is expensive and cumbersome.

With the foregoing difficulties confronting the industry, a principalobject of the invention is to provide a method and valve means by whicha tank may be filled to capacity at a continuously high rate with onlythe connection of the filler hose to the storage tank.

A further object of the invention is to prevent any substantial increasein vapor pressure within the tank during filling operations so thatreplenishing liquid may be introduced at full speed throughout thefilling operations.

The invention is also characterized by a breaking up,

of the incoming liquid into a spray of minute droplets so directed thatthe vapor in the tank is circulated into the path of spray and intointimate heat exchange contact with the droplets for quickprecipitation.

Another object-of the invention is to provide assured cooling of thevapor in the tank by agitated absorption of heat therefrom to liquefy,as a continuing process, largeamounts of the vaporpresent in the tankthat otherwise would cause an increase in pressure. This agitation isaccomplished by splashnig the liquid already present in the tank, hardspraying the incoming liquid through the vapor space, and :by agitatedcirculation of the vapor in the vapor space. i o

Another object of the invention is to provide a valve wherein theinrus'hingliquid is ejected in a wide spray 2 pattern into the tank atthe top of the vapor space to break up stratification and surfacetensions of the liquid in the tank and thereby enhance absorption oflatent heat from the vapor at the temperature and pressure critical forits precipitation.

A further object of the invention is to provide a method by means ofwhich liquefied gas may be fed rapidly at a sustained high rate into astorage vessel, the high rate of filling serving to assist itself. inproportion to its "at? f fi r An additional object of the invention isto provide a composite valve means by which fuel may be fedrapidly intoa tank in a mannerthat the development of excessive back pressures areprevented, without interfering with the normal operation and functionsof the liquefied gas storing and dispensing system.

Other and further objects, advantages and features of the. presentinvention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from thefollowing description, taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings in which similar referencecharacters relate to similar parts,and in which: Fig. 1 is an elevational view, in section, of a valve madein accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of a modified form of the presentinvention; r

Fig. 3 is an elevational view, in section, of thevalve disclosed in Fig.2 showing the operative elements in the position they assume undervaried conditions ofuse;

Fig.- 4 is a vertical sectional view of another modified form of thepresent invention; i i 3 Fig. 5 is an elevational view, in section, of'afurther modified form of the present invention; and. i

Figs. 6 and 7 are views showing the vapor agitation induced in the tankby the spray from the embodiment shown in Fig. 4 as taken in sectionupon lines 7-7 and 6--6 in the respective figures. i

In the present invention where replenishing liquid is pumped into astorage tank under forced conditions, the liquid is sprayed against aheavy vapor as it exists-under as much as pounds per square inch gauge.The impact upon this body of vapor breaks up the spray in fine dropletswhich pass into the vapor space in the tank. As the liquid is broken upinto fine streams and droplets it not. only isdriven into intimate heatexchange with the vapor in the tank being filled, but forces the vaporto moveand also splashes into the vapor space the liquid already presentin the tank. i

The liquid entering the tank tends to compress the vapor present in thetank with the result that the pressure and temperature of the vapor tendto rise, the pressure more rapidly than the temperature. Withtheincrease of pressure the normal vapor pressure equilibrium in thetank is disturbed and a condensation of vapor begins which is greatlyaccelerated by the incoming droplets seeding precipitation, and withcondensation occurring, thermal units are surrendered as latent heatfrom .the vapor to the liquid in the tank with little increase intemperature. In the preferred embodiment, the arc of the spray dischargeis approximately degrees so that the vapor is positively circulated tomove into the field of spray so that all vapor is brought into intimatecontact with the spray.

In performing the method of the present invention the spraying action isaccomplished by a diffusion valve which remains closed except whenfilling operations under pressure are under way. In this way otheroperations of the valve arrangement are unimpaired.

Referring now to Fig. 1, there is shown in this. Fig. 1 a valve insertunit, generally indicated by referenee numeral 10 which is capable of"being mounted on a filler valve element or coupling 8 to feed liquidinto a closed eontainer in the form of a spray, and of evacuating the 1It s) entire container, should that be necessary, through a liquideduction tube secured to its lower end. The valve is provided with ahousing 11 having a central passage 9 including bore 12 terminating inan internal shoulder 13 forming a seat for a sleeve 14 which is slidablymounted within the bore 12 and normally covers a plurality ofcircumferentially spaced radial ports 15 in the sidewall of the housing.The sleeve 14 is provided with an inwardly directed flange 16 to theinner marginal edges of which is secured a filler pipe 17 externallythreaded at 18 for reception of the coupling 8. At the upper end of thehousing 11 there are internal threads 19 for reception of acorrespondingly threaded ring 22, the inner marginal edges of whicharein closely spaced relation to the pipe 17. Extending between the ring 22and the flange 16 is a spring 23 which normally urges the sleeve 14 intocontact with the shoulder 13. A substantially frusto conical seat 24joins the bore 12 with a bore 25 in which is concentrically mounted, bymeans of a spider 26, a check valve assembly 2'7 having a concaveretainer disc 28 normally biased into the position shown by a spring 29.At the lower end of the housing 11 and communicating with the bore 25 isan internally threaded bore 32 in which aliquid outage pipe 7 such asthat shown in Fig. 6 may be received for evacuation of the container, aswill be apparent.

In operation, the pressure of incoming liquid forces the disc 28 intoengagement with the seat 24 and there is formed Within the passage 9,aninlet zone at a pressure substantially greater than the pressure in thezone below the disc 28. This pressure forces the entire housing 11downwardly to uncover the ports 15 and efiEect diffusion of the liquidradially outwardly of the liquid through these ports, Since the vaporpressure within the container will at all times be in excess of thevapor pressure of the fuel, vaporization of the incoming liquid will notoccur ifthe'temperature of the incoming liquid is equal to or greaterthan the temperature of the liquid already in the tank. On the otherhand, the particles of fuel emitted form a spray pattern Within thecontainer broken up by the heaviness of the vapor present already underpressure. These particles or droplets collide with the saturated vaporparticles and provide a suflicient exchange of heat to effectprecipitation of the vapor particles. The latent heat, sometimesreferred to herein as the latent heat of condensation, is, of course,absorbed by the incoming liquid and by the liquid already within thecontainer. In addition, the falling of these fuel particles into theliquid efiects a turbulence which disturbs the surface tension of theliquid and thus the equilibrium at any particular temperature-pressurevalue.

When the feed pressure is removed the housing 11 returns to the positionshown and the ports 15 are again covered. The valve disc is again biasedto the position shown by the spring 23 and the valve is in position forevacuation. Suitable valve closure means are, of course, associated withthe filler pipe 17 to prevent escape of the contents of the vessel aswill be described in conjunction with the remaining figures.

In Fig. 2 is shown a modified form of the present invention in which thespray device constitutes in part a-normally closed back flow check valvein a dual valve arrangement where the upper valve 10a has a housing 11aprovided with a central passage 9a. The housing 11a includes a mainsection 33 having a bore 34 threaded at 35 for reception of acorrespondingly threaded upper housing section 36 which has a bore 37threaded at 38 for reception of a cap 39 which cooperates with a ring 42to afford sealing of the entire central passage. Communicating with thebore 34 is a passage 43 which forms, in conjunction with the bore 34, ashoulder 44 on which rests a gasket 45 received in an annular recess 46in the lower edge of the upper housing section 36. Within the passage 43is formed a spider 47 for concentrically mounting a valve stem 48 forthe back flow check valve bly to the position shown in the lowerdot-and-dash lines 72, described later, having at its upper end a cap 49normally maintained in spaced relation to the spider 47 by means of aspring 52 to urge the back flow check valve to its closed position.integrally formed with the spider 47 is a hollow cylindrical cup 53. Aspring 54 is mounted in engagement with the outer surface of the cup 53and norrnaly urges a retainer assembly 55 into engagement with a seat56, forming a part of the lower extremity of the upper housing section36. The assernbly 55 includes a retainer 57 having a serrated peripheryfor a purpose hereafter described, and a disc 58 held in position by aretainer washer 59 secured to the retainer 57 by'means of a centralscrew 62. The retainer 57 is formed with a cup 63 which is disposedwithin the space between the spring 52 and the cup 53.

Communicating with the passage 43 is a bore 64 internally threaded at 65for reception of an adapter 66 which forms a part of the housing 11a andwhich is provided with an elongated bore 67. Slidably mounted Within thebore 67 is a combination valve seat and spray cage 68 having a pluralityof circumferentially spaced apertures 70 in the sidewall of the adapter66. At the lower end'of the stem 48 the check valve disc 72 alreadyreferred to is secured by means ofa rivet 73. The upper edge of the disc72 is beveled at 74 for seating on ,upper end of the upper housing 36 asshown in Norway 'U. S. Patent No. 2,361,866, reference to which ishereby made. The incoming liquid acts upon the upper surface of theretainer assembly 55 and forces the assem- 55d in this figure, thuscompressing the spring 54. Downward movement of the stem 48, along withthe spray cage 68, is afiorded by the flow of liquid about the serratedperiphery of the retainer 57, and through the spider 47. As the spraycage 68 moves downwardly in' response to the liquid pressure (see 72d),the slots 69 are brought to the position shown in the lower dot-:and-dash lines 69d in which position they register with an unobstructedpath is provided through the valve for the openings 70 in the sidewallof the adapter 66. Thus flowof the liquid. On emission fromthe openings70 v as broken up by the resistance of the body of compressed vapor, thefuel is dispersed outwardly in a shower of tiny particles-which are at alower temperature than the vapor being compressed in the storagecontainer. The result is the absorption of latent heat from the vaporwithin the storage tank and consequent precipitation of the saturatedvapor. v p i When evacuation of thestorage tank is desired, the retainerassemblymay be depressed by a suitable tube as shown in theabove-mentioned Norway U. S. Patent No. 2,361,866, to the position shownin dot-and-dash lines and into contact with the cap 49 of the stem 48.In this position the valve 72 is held in position'72e; the slots 69 areout of register with the openings and since there is no pressure withinthe spray cage to urge it downwardly, the spray cage 68 follows thevalve 72 downwardly untilcommunication is fully established with thereceiving container. At this time the greater pressure in the lower zoneof the valve forces the spray cage to its uppermostposition. Theresulting separation of the disc 72 from the edge of the opening 76forms an annular passage for complete evacuation of the storagecontainer.

Referring now to Fig. 5, there is shown in this figure a modified formof the present invention mounted on from the tank in conjunction with afilling valve such as that described in connection with Fig. 2. The

already described to close against the seat 76a.

In this embodiment the adapter 66a is internally threaded at the top tobe supported on the coupling member 80 and at the bottom the bore 67a isreduced in diameter to provide vertically spaced shoulders 83 and 84. Aplurality of circumferentially spaced radial openings 70a are providedand the spray cage 68a is provided with slots 69a where they registerwith the openings 70a when the spray cage rests against the shoulder 83.As shown, the spray cage 68a is normally held in its raised position bya spring 92, the bottom convolution of which rests upon the shoulder 84.Moreover, the spray cage 68a is cup-shaped and is provided with aplurality of valve port openings 85 in its bottom wall that are closedby a valve disc 86 resting on top of the openings as normally held inthis position, preferably by a compression spring 87 engaging the head89 of a pin 90 secured to the valve disc as shown. The use of acompression spring is preferred but it has been found that gravityclosure of the valve disc is adequate when the valve is mountedvertically.

In the operation of the valve adapter of Fig. 5, the disc 86 is normallyin the closed position shown, i. 6., in engagement with the bottom ofthe spray cage 68a. When liquid under pressure is introduced past thefiller valve the resulting pressure forces the spray cage 68a downwardlyuntil the slots 69a are in register with the openings 70a. This downwardmovement of the spray cage compresses the spring 92, and, of course, thespring returns the cage to the position shown when the feed pressure isremoved. When this adapter is employed for evacuation of a storagecontainer or vessel as when the valves 55 and 72 are held open therelief of pressure above the valve disc 86 causes the disc 86 to riseunder the pressure below the cage, thus compressing the spring 87, ifpresent. When the desired contents of the storage vessel have beenevacuated the valves 55 and 72 are closed and the disc 86 again closesthe ports 85.

Referring now to Fig. 4, the composite valve shown in this figurecomprises a body 110 having three bosses 91, 92 and 93 attached to atank c by a flange 10b as shown in Fig. 5. Instead of the valve retainerassembly 55, however, a double filler valve arrangement 105 is providedwithin the threaded opening 94 where they are in communication with thecentral passage 106 as supported in part on an integral spider 95 at thebottom of the passage 106. The structure and operation of the valvearrangement is more fully described in the Sundstrom U. S. Patent No.2,713,874, reference to which is hereby made.

It is sufiicient here to note that the two valves 96 and 97 are normallyclosed vertically spaced valves supported in alignment to open inwardlyfor the admission of liquid under pressure and are so arranged that theycan be held open for the evacuation of liquid if desired.

The boss 93 receives a normal shut-off valve assembly 107 of thediaphragm sealed type which closes at seat 108 to control the flow ofliquid to household appliances from the central passage 106 assafeguarded by the orifice restriction at 109 and as connected to aservice conduit at the opening shown in dotted lines 110a.

The lower end of the body portion 110 is provided with internal threadsto receive an extension nipple 18a and a pipe adapter 18b for supportingthe spray device at a predetermined level in the tank 100. See SundstromU. S. Patent No. 2,341,579, wherelength might be important. e

The remaining boss 92 has a passage 111. in communication with thecentral passage 106 and is threaded at 112 to receive a valve fitting(not shown) for dispensing liquid to farm equipment such as propanepowered tractors. The element 113 shown is a plug for closing thispassage until the transfer hose fitting is installed.

A The spray device in this embodiment is similar in many respects tothatshown in Fig. 5, same having a body 6612 with shoulders 83a and 84atherein, a spray cage 8615 having openings at the bottom thereof closedby a valve disc 86 as already described. However, in this embodiment thebody 66b has a narrow horizontal slot 114 extending approximately 180degrees around the body 6612 and the sidewall 115 of the cage 68b is ofsuch length that the slot 114 is exposed above the upper edge ofthesidewall when the cage 68b rests against the shoulder 83a. Thus whenthe spray cage 68b is forced downwardly byincoming liquid, the liquidflows over the upper edge thereof wherever the slot 114 is located.

The operation of dispensing liquid for household use through theshut-olf valve 107 in Fig. 5 will be understood by those skilled in theart by two or more stages of pressure reduction (not shown) in a serviceline (Fig. 6) which includes a first stage pressure reducer thatprovides for vaporization of the liquid fuel educted through the ports85 and past the disc 86, and a last stage pressure regulator fordispensing gas at eleven inches of water column at the appliance.Moreover, it will be appreciated how liquid fuel can be dispensed to atractor fuel tank through the boss 92 with suitable valving and howliquid fuel in the tank can be evacuated if the tank is to be moved asdescribed in the above-mentioned Norway patent.

However, in connection with the filling of the tank with liquid underforced pressure and a further understanding of the operation of theinvention, reference is made to Figs. 6 and 7 in connection with theembodiment shown in Fig: 4. The tank 10c is shown to be an elongated onesupported horizontally on blocks 119 with the liquid level of the tankshown at 120a and a pressure filling hose 121 attached to the threads77. The replenishing liquid is being taken from a supply tank 128 andforced by pump 129 into the tank 10c through the slot 114 as fanned outby the shape of the slot.

Since the liquid spray is opposed in its movement by the heavy vaporpresent in the tank under high pressure, it is broken up into finedroplets that move through the vapor with a trajectory greatlyaccelerated above that experienced with liquids discharged into theatmosphere. Because of this quick trajectory and the inertia of theheavy vapor, much of the vapor space in a horizontally disposed tankwill not be reached by the droplets.

This is significant because, as the liquid is forced into the tank, itphysically displaces vapor volume and compresses the vapor present inthe space. With this compression, the pressure tends to rise in the tankand the temperature also. Liquid temperatures in the supply and storagetanks being the same, the incoming liquid cannot vaporize against theresultant pressure in the storage tank that becomes higher than itsvapor pressure, nor can the liquid at the bottom of the tank vaporizefor the same reason.- The increase of pressure unbalances the vaporpressure equilibrium of the fuel in the storage tank and condensation isto be expected. However, for condensation to take place, latent heatshould be absorbed from the vapor.

More specifically, assuming a set of conditions for purposes of exampleand explanation, the propane vapor pressure in the storage tank can bepresumed to be p. s. i. (pound per square inch) gauge (10.54 kg./cm. ata temperature of approximately 90 F. (32 C.). A usual empty condition ofa 500 gallon storage tank about 25% full can also be considered forpurposes of discussion and such is to be filled to approximately 85%.Although pumps employed in the art vary, a positive displacement pumpexpected to deliver 50 gallons per minute under a pressure differentialof 75 p. s. i. (5.27 kg./cm. 'can be used. With approximately 290gallons to be pumped, the desired pumping time would be approximatelysix minutes.

In order to maintain the original pressure differential for pumpingefiiciencypapproximately thirty-five gallons of vapor must be condensedto receive thirty-four gallons of replenishing liquid with the endresult that the liquid content of the tank has been increasedthirty-five gallons, it being understood that approximately one unit ofliquid is derived from the condensation of thirty-five units of vapor.To maintain substantially the same pressure differential, theoreticallythe vapor has to be condensed as fast as it is displaced by liquid.

The latent heat content of the thirty-five gallons of vapor (one gallonliquid) is approximately 770 B. t. u. and the heat content ofthirty-four gallons of liquid would be approximately 405 B. t. u. pergallon. In absorbing 770 B. t. u. of latent heat from the vapor(thirty-five gallons) to condense it, the 770 B. t. u. could be absorbedby thirty-four gallons of liquid which means 12 B. t. u. per gallon,which would raise the temperature of the liquid to approximately 120 F.(49 C.) if there is no loss from the system. Thus the new equilibriumwould be a vapor pressure of 225 p. s. i. (15.82 kg./cm. This is within25 p. s. i. (1.76 kg./cm. of the pop-ofi? pressure of the safety valveof the storage tank system.

However, liquid already in the tank can be utilized to keep thetemperature down some, and with the latent heat of 375 gallons of vapordistributed in 425 gallons of liquid, the ultimate vapor pressure risewould be only to 185 p. s. i. (13 kg./cm. Furthermore, the temperatureof the incoming fuel is lowered because of vaporization taking place inthe supply tank and this lowering is inversely related to the rise oftemperature expected in the storage tank. This is a further factor inabsorbing latent heat from the compressed vapor because the cooler theincoming liquid is the more capacity it has to absorb heat from thevapor space without running the resulting temperature of the liquid inthe storage tank as high as otherwise might be the case, as alreadyindicated.

In order for the system to work with the greatest efiiciency, however,it is necessary that the incoming liquid contact all of the vapor asthoroughly as possible. However, with the heavy compressed condition(high density) of the vapor that is present, the spray of the liquidwill not penetrate as far as would be expected under atmosphericpressure (lesser density), and with the spray pattern spread over anangle of 360 degrees, i. e., a circular spray pattern, stagnation ofvapor exists in the tank where the spray does not and cannot reach thevapor. Temperatures in these areas rise very substantially due to vaporcompression, both the temperature and pressure supplementing each otherfor very high temperatures and high pressures.

In the embodiment shown in Figs. 4, 6 and 7, the spray is confined to anangle of 180 degrees. This not only increases the drive of the spray topenetrate the vapor, but causes a positive circulation of vapor in thetank in the directions of the arrows 130 in Figs. 6 and 7. The sprayhitting half of the vapor in the space with a directional effect causesthe vapor to move and the vapor which is not in the spray area is movedinto the spray progressively so that all the vapor passes time and againthrough the spray area where thermal units are absorbed by the liquidspray particles and some vapor is condensed. All the vapor thus passesthrough the spray area and with gradual lowering of temperature of theincoming liquid, the temperature of vapor is controlled uniformlythroughout its body and kept quite low.

Thus it is possible to fill a storage tank with as little 8 pressurerise as twenty pounds with a substantially coristant quantity of fiftygallons per unit of time in the time suggested, it being appreciatedthat some loss of thermal units from the storage tank to atmosphere isof assistance in this respect. 1 I

Having thus described several embodiments of the invention and thepreferred method and apparatus for performing it, it will be apparent tothose skilled'inthe art how various and further modifications andchanges can be made to fulfill the objects stated for the invention,without departing from the spirit ofthe invention, the scope of which iscommensurate with the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A combination valve for use in filling a storage vessel withliquefied petroleum gas or for evacuating gas from the vessel comprisinga housing, said housing having a central passage, defining an inletopening, a filler pipe for receiving replenishing liquid under pressurecon nected to said opening arranged Within said'passage, a plurality ofcircumferentially spaced apertures in said housing, a sleeve of greaterdiameter than said pipe disposed in abutting relation to the insidesurface of said passage, said sleeve normally covering said openings andbeing joined to said pipe, a normally open check valve carried by saidhousing positioned in said central passage closing in the direction offlow of replenishing liquid entering said passage, a spring arranged insurrounding relation to said pipe and operative to maintain the coveringrelation of said sleeve with respect to said openings, whereby upon theintroduction of the liquefied gas under pressure said valve is closedand the housing is urged into a position in which the openings areuncovered to afford spraying of the liquefied gas throughouta relativelylarge area of said vessel and when the feed pressure is removed saidcheck valve opens for evacuation of the contents of the vessel. 2.' Acombination valve for use in filling a storage vessel with liquefied gasor for evacuating gas from the vessel comprising a relatively movablehousing, a central passage formed in said housing, said passageincluding a bore formed in one end and communicating with a second boreextending from the other end of said housing and forming an internalshoulder, a stationary filler pipe disposed withinsaid first bore, saidhousing being formed with a plurality of circumferentially spaced portsadjacent said shoulder, a sleeve positioned within said first bore andnormally covering said ports, said sleeve having'an 'inwardl'y' directedflange secured to said filler pipe, a spider disposed transverselyacross said passage in close proximate relation to said shoulder, avalve mounted 'on said spider and operative upon actuation to moveaxially of said passage, said shoulder being formed with an annular seatfor said valve, the other end of said first bore having internal threadsfor reception of a sealing ring mounted in surrounding relation to saidfiller pipe, a compression spring arranged about said filler pipe andextending between said flange and said ring whereby upon theintroduction of liquefied gas under pressure said valve'is closed andthe housing is moved axially of the filler pipe so that the ports areuncovered to efiect spraying of the liquid over a relatively wide areain said vessel and when a low pressure area is created in said firstbore, said valve is unseated to afford evacuation of the contents of thevessel.

3. A combination valve for use in filling a storage vessel withliquefied gas or for evacuating gas from the vessel comprising ahousing, a central passage formed in said housing, said passageincluding a bore formed in one end and communicating with a second boreextending from the other end of said housing and forming an internalshoulder, a filler pipe disposed within said first bore, said housingbeing formed with a plurality of circumferentially spaced ports adjacentsaid shoulder, a sleeve positioned within said first bore and normallycovering said normallyclosi-ng said port.

ports, said sleeve having an inwardly directed flange secured to saidfiller pipe, a normally open valve mounted centrally of said passage,said shoulder being formed with an annular seat for said valve, theother end of said first bore having internal threads for reception of asealing ring mounted in surrounding relation to said filler pipe, acompression spring arranged about said filler pipe and extending betweensaid flange and said ring whereby upon the introduction of liquefied gasunder pressure said valve is closed and the housing is movedaxially ofthe filler pipe so that the ports are uncovered to effect spraying ofthe liquid over a relatively wide area in said vessel and when ,a lowpressure area is created in said first bore, saidvalve is unseated toafford evaq lation of the contents of the vessel. t t 4. In combination,a tank for storing liquefied gas under pressure, a filler valve mountedat an opening in the tank, and a device for spray filling and liquideduction of said tank, said device comprising housing meanscommunicating with the filler valve, a central passage in said housingmeans, one end of said passage forming an inlet connected to said fillervalve for the introduction of replenishing liquefied-gas under pressureinto said tank and the other end forming an opening spaced from saidinlet, a dip pipe communicating with said opening and extending to apoint adjacent the bottom of the tank to place said passage incommunication with said tank, said housing means having a horizontallydirected radial port formed in the side thereof intermediate said inletand said opening, means including a member slidably mounted insaidhousing means for relative axial movement with respect thereto to openand close said radial port, an upper stop means and a lower stop meanson said housing means for limiting said relative movement between aposition closing said radial port and a position opening saidradialport, means for stopping flow through said opening including valve andvalvese at elements movablerelative to each other to a closed positionwhen said slidable member and housing means cooperate to open said portunder pressure of replenishing-liquefied gas entering saidpassage-through said inlet, and said elements being movable to openposition and the slidable member and housing means cooperating to closesaid port under pressure of withdrawn liquefied gas entering saidpassage through said opening, and means normally urging said slidablemember andrhousing means into their relative position normally closingsaid port.

5. In; combination, a tank for storing liquefied gas under pressure andflow control means: mounted at an opening in the tank for spray fillingand withdrawing liquefied gas comprising a filler valve, aflow directingdevice and a dip tube extending to a point adjacent the bottom of thetank, said device including a,housing'inter-connecting the filler valveand dip tube and having a central passage therein in communication atits top: withsaid filler valve and atits bottom with the dip tube andhaving a laterally directed spray, port inthe side thereof intermediateits top and bottom in communication with the tank near the top .thereof,means including a member mounted in said housing for relative axialmovement with respect thereto, an .upper stop means and a lower stopmeans for limiting said relative movement between a position closingsaid port and] a position opening saidport, means for placing said diptube in opencommunication with said filler valve through said passageincluding a valve element and a valve seat element in said housingopening in the direction of flow of liquid from the dip tube to thefiller valve through said passage, said member and housing beingdisposed in said port opening position and said elements being closedunder pressure of replenishing liquefied gas in said passage enteringfrom said filler valve, and means normally urg ng said memberanclhousing to said position 6'. For use in combination with a tank forstoring liquefied gas under pressure, a valve assembly for spray fillingthe storage tank withlique'fied gas and for withdrawing liquefied gasfrom the tank comprising a plurality of tubular members slidably mountedone within the other for relative axial movement therebetween anddefining a flow passage axially therethrough, one of the membersdefining an inside Wall upon which the other one slides, one end of thepassage defining an inlet opening for fluid entering the tank, the otherend below the telescoping overlap defining an outlet opening, a dip tubeconnected to said outlet opening and extending to a point adjacent tothe bottom of the tank for educting fluid from the tank, the outside oneof said members having a port therein disposed inla horizontal planeover a portion of the circumference of said outside member intermediatesaid openings, an upper stop means and a lower stop means on saidoutside member upon opposite sides of said port for limiting movement ofthe inner one of said members from a normal relative position in whichsaid port is covered by said inner member to another relative positionin which the port is uncovered by said inner member, a spider carried byone of the members and movable therewith having a coaxial bore andaplurality of openings therearound formed therein for permitting outflowof fluid to the passage from the tank, a stem axially slidable in saidbore, a valve disc fixed on the end of the stem adjacent to the inletopening, the disc being of suflicient area to cover the spider openings,and spring means biasing the spider carrying member relative to theother member in a direction closing said port, and a dip tube secured tosaid external member to connect said spider openings and the outletopening to a point adjacent to the bottom of the tank, the fluidpressure of replenishing fluid entering the passage from the inletholding said disc closed against said spider and moving said members totheir said other relative position uncovering said port, and the fluidpressure of outgoing fluid at said spider openings moving said disc awayfrom said spider and said members to their said normal position. i

7. In a liquefied gas storing and dispensing system, a tank for storingliquefied gas under pressure and having a valve receiving opening in awall thereof, and a dip tube extending to a point adjacent the bottomthereof, a combination spray filler and flow control valve assemblymounted in said opening and connected to said clip tube for use infilling the storage tank from a point above the liquid level thereofwith liquefied gas and for withdrawing liquefied gas from a point nearthe bottom of the tank comprising an elongated housing, a centralpassage in said housing, one end of said housing forming an inlet forsaid passage to receive replenishing liquefied gas introduced underpressure and the other end of said housing forming an outlet to saidpassage from said tank through said dip tube, a plurality ofcircumferentially spaced radial ports adjacent said inlet formed in saidhousing near the top of the tank and in communication with said passage,means including an inflow check valve disposed adjacent the outlet endof said passage for closing said outlet in response to pressure in saidpassage, means slidably mounted in said passage for movement in responseto said pressure in said passage in a direction opening said ports forcommunication with said passage, and spring means normally urging thelast said means to a position closing saidqports.

8. In combination a tank for storing liquefied gas under pressure, aspray filler and flow control valve assembly mounted at an opening insaid tank comprising a housing carrying a dip tube extending to a pointadjacent the bottom of the tank, a central passage formed in saidhousing, said housing being formed with a plurality of circumferentiallyspaced ports, means mounted within said passage for normally closingsaid ports, a flow check valve mounted in said passage and dividing saidpassage into two zones, said valve closing when fluid in one zone is ata higher pressure than in the other zone, said one of said zones beingin communication with one end of said housing to receive replenishingfluid and the other oi "said zones being in communication at the otherend of sa'id'housing with a point near the bottom of the tank throughsaid dip tube to receive liquid educted from the tank, said portsopening into said one of said zones near the top of the vessel, meansincluding a slidable element disposed within said housing for relativemovement between said housing and said first means to effect opening ofsaid ports upon the closirigof said valve when the pressure in said onezone is greater than the pressure in said other zone, and a springnormally moving said element to close said ports upon the opening ofsaid valve when the pressure in said one zone is less than the pressurein said other zone.

9. In a liquefied gas storing and dispensing system a tank for storingliquefied gas under pressure and a spray filler and eduction valveassembly mounted on said tank, said valve assembly comprising a housing,a central passage formed in said housing opening outside of the tank atone end and at a point adjacent the bottom of the tank at the other end,a filler valve disposed within said passage adjacent said outsideopening and adapted to be opened by the pressure of infiowingreplenishing liquid to afford flow of the liquid therearound and into aninlet zone, a radial port through the wall of the housing, a

cage slidably disposed within said passage and normally closing saidports, said spray cage having an opening registering with said port whenliquid under pressure is introduced into said passage through saidinlet, said cage having a concentric stem, a spring normally urging saidstem to carry said opening of said cage out of register with said portto close the port, a check valve carried by'said cage at the lower endof said stem for cooperation with a seat formed in the bottom Wall ofsaid cage, whereby upon the lowering of the pressure in said inlet zoneand manual displacement of said stern and said check valve the cage isseparated from said check valve and a path is provided therethrough foreducting liquefied gas from the tank.

10. A valve assembly for mounting in a fluid passage and comprising ahousing having a flow passage extending lengthwise therethrough anddefining an inside wall for the body, means on one end of said housingdefining an inlet opening for said passage including a filler valve, theother end of the passage defining a withdrawal opening formed in thehousing, the housing having a plurality of outlet ports formed thereinarranged substantially in a plane passing through the body intermediatesaid openings, sleeve means slidable in the passage and being ofsuflicient size to cover said outlet ports, means for limiting movementof the sleeve means in the direc tion toward said withdrawal opening toclose said outlet ports, said sleeve means being movable in thedirection opposite to said first direction to a position where the portswill be uncovered, and means for yieldably holding the sleeve means insaid position closing said ports, and check valve means in the housingincluding a valve seat between said withdrawal opening and said portsand a valve element cooperating therewith to open said seat by movementin the direciton of said inlet opening.

11. A valve assembly for mounting in a fluid passage and comprising afiller valve and a flow control device, said device including a housinghaving a chamber in communication with the filler valve at one end anddefining an inlet opening at the other end of said chamber,

said housing having a port through a side wall of the chamber, a memberslidably mounted in said chamber to move from a position covering saidport to a position uncovering said port, means resiliently holding saidmember in said relative port covering position including a stop elementbetween said filler valve and said port, and valve means between saidfiller valve and said inlet opening including a valve element and avalve seat element in said housing movable relative to each other to aclosed posiing, said housing having a spray outlet port through the sideof the housing intermediate said inlet and withdrawal opening, a sleeveaxially slidable in said passage and being of sutficient axial length tocover said outlet port, check valve means including a valve seat elementon said sleeve facing said withdrawal opening and a valve elementengaging said valve seat element and movable in the direction of saidinlet opening to close against said seat, spring means for urging saidvalve element to said closed position to urge said sleeve to a positionclosing said outlet port, filler valve means in said inlet opening, andmeans interengaging said valve means for displacing said valve elementto partially open said check valve means direction of said withdrawalopening to a position opening said outlet port.

13. A valve assembly for mounting in a fluid passage comprising a mainbody and a tubular housing interconnected by an externally threadedcoupling to define an elongated flow passage, a spray outlet portthrough the side of said tubular housing below said coupling, the end ofthe passage in said body defining an inlet, a normally closed back flowcheck valve in said inlet opening towards said passage, the end of thepassage in said tubular housing defining a withdrawal opening, a sleeveaxially slidable in said passage for movement between positions openingand closing said outlet port, check valve means remote from the end ofthe sleeve adjacent said inlet opening, shoulder means on the couplingdefining a valve seat above said outlet port and determining theposition of the sleeve when closing said outlet port, a valve memberclosing against said valve seat and including a valve stem displaced bysaid back flow check valve when opened,

said valve element moving to within the confines of said sleeve whensaid valve stem is so displaced, and means for urging said sleeve intoengagement with said coupling to close said outlet port.

14. The combination called for in claim 11 in which said port extendsaround said housing a distance less than a major portion of thecircumference of the housing.

15. The combination called for in claim 11 in which said slidable membercomprises a spray cage having a circumferentially disposed slotregistering with said port 'by a coupling member terminating at thebottom in a valve seat member for said filler valve and a shoulderconstituting said stop element.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,438,581 Claude Dec. 12, 1922 2,487,863 Garretson Nov. 15, 19492,515,651 Harrison et a1. July 18, 1950 2,610,859 Wilcox Sept. 16, 1952(other references on following page) Brandon Sept. 21, 1954 JohnstonFeb. 15, 1955 Slattery Mar. 29, 1955 Cameron May 17, 1955 5 14 SundstromJuly 26, 1955 Postlewait Mar. 12, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS France Oct. 8,1952

